Our View: When conservatives choose not to vote there are consequences

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 2:35 am, Wednesday, January 7, 2015

There is a theory tossed around when Republican primaries for president take place.

According to the theory, if a true conservative isn’t selected, then some voters on the political right will stay home and cost Republicans a chance to take the White House.

Those who spread this theory often give as examples the presidential campaigns of John McCain and Mitt Romney. Both McCain and Romney were called (probably accurately) wishy-washy in the conservatism, or RINOs (Republicans in Name Only).

As names start surfacing for 2016, there are those on the right who will put the old theory to the test. They say if Republicans nominate a candidate such Jeb Bush or Chris Christie, true conservatives will stay home and give the general election to the Democrats, just like 2008 and 2012.

We scratch our heads when we hear this theory. Politically, we believe it makes no sense that purity stops Republicans from voting for a candidate whose alleged more moderate views just don’t measure up. We also believe the electoral map doesn’t jive with the theory.

But for the sake of the argument, let’s put stock into what some conservatives believe as gospel. Let’s go with the idea that the moderation of GOP nominations has caused some on the right to stay home.

On Tuesday, the White House said President Barack Obama, who allegedly kept his office in 2012 because the true conservatives stayed home in states like Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Iowa, will not sign legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline. It is a decision that is infuriating because the president is putting the environmentalists ahead of job creation and what is best for the country. But the president is working on his legacy as one of the most -- if not the most -- progressive presidents in history. Working with Republicans, in our view, is not going to be on his list of things to do for the next two years. Also not on that list will be sensible tax reform, responsible immigration legislation or rolling back environmental restrictions. And if you were hoping for repealing parts of Obamacare, dream on.

As a bonus, conservatives need to hope the justices on the Supreme Court stay in good health or don’t retire and that executive orders are kept to a minimum. After all, if you believe conservatives, their willingness to not turn out elected Obama to office and kept him there.

It is easy to believe that America would be better off with a more conservative leader. You certainly wouldn’t get any argument from us. However, those on the right wing of the political spectrum need to think about how much of a role they played in selecting the president. Because either they are offering hyperbole for effect that they can’t back up or they are responsible for what has happened and will happen in our country under this president. Projects like the Keystone Pipeline should happen. It would be a shame if it didn’t because conservatives choose not to turn out for a candidate who would have made it happen.